Photocopy paper cutting means



A ril 21, 1970 SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS ori inal Filed Nov. 20, 1964 1 8Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. RA SAGE PETER P PUNGITORE PETER J2 TOTINOApril 21, 1970 l. M. SAGE ET AL PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 Aw //7/V/ INVENTOR 5 t"fizmgw i Kw W IRA M- SAGE- PETE-R P. PUNGIITORE PETER .ITOTINO April21, 1970 M. SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCORY PAPER :CUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8SheetsSheet 5 a v Q INVENTORS.

IRA M SAGE PETER R PuNGlTorzE Q P TER JT'ToTINo ATTORNEYS A ril 21, 1970.,M SAGE Em 7 3,507,513 PHOTO COi Y PAPER CUTTING MEANS Original FiledNov. 20, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. M. SAGE ET L PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTINGMEANS April 21, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964INVENTORS. IRA M- SAGE PETER P- PUNGITDRE PETER Iv B! T TI ATTORNEY SApril 21, 1970 SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPERCUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet6 f w FIG. 70

7a f yg /24 34 INVENTORS. ITZA M SAGE PETER P. FUNGITOJZE PETER J.TOT/MO $7 WY n/ ATTORNEY April 21, 1970 M SAGE ET AL 3,507,573

PHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 8Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR s: 12 M. SAGE P 12- P. WNGITOZE IIIHII nu n n'pO N m E m M Z a T n A E P 1 B Qv Q\ April 21, 1970 l. M. SAGE ET ALPHOTOCOPY PAPER CUTTING MEANS 8 SheetsSheet Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964INVENTOR IIZA M. SAGE P TER J'- TOTmo B1 ATTZ IQNEY 3,507,573 PatentedApr. 21, 1970 United States Patent Ofice 3,507,573 PHOTOCOPY PAPERCU'ITING MEANS Ira M. Sage, New York, and Peter P. Pungitore, Bronx,N.Y., and Peter J. Totino, Edgewater, N.J., assignors to Old TownCorporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Originalapplication Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,729, now Patent No. 3,385,161,dated May 28, 1968. Divided and this application Dec. 20, 1967, Ser. No.716,247

Int. Cl. G03b 29/00 US. Cl. 355-28 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe invention is used in a reader-copier which enlarges microfilmimages, displays the images on the viewing screen, and makeselectrostatic copies of the images on coated photoconductive copy paper.The copy paper is fed in a continuous web from a roll. Means is providedfor notching the paper at one edge upon the supplying of an appropriateelectrical signal by the operator. After the copy has been developed,the cutting means senses the notch and cuts the paper at the notch. Thecutting means includes a set of shears in which the blades rotate intocontact with one another and shear the paper while simultaneously movingwith the paper at approximately the same speed so that there is nobinding of the paper in the shearing blades. This invention is describedin greater detail in the portion of the specification entitled PaperCutting System, and is shown in FIGURES 7 through 9.

This invention relates to apparatus for displaying and copyingdocuments; more particularly, this invention relates to apparatus forenlarging, displaying and copying documents recorded on microfilm.

This is a division of US. application Ser. No. 412,729, filed Nov. 20,1964, now US. Patent No. 3,385,161, granted May 28, 1968.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a microfilmreader-copier which enlarges and displays documents recorded on themicrofilm and quickly makes dry copies of selected portions of thedocuments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means forsetting the length of the copies made by said reader-copier tocorrespond to the length of the selected portion of the document copied.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provideelectrostatic copying equipment for such apparatus, the copyingequipment being relatively fool-proof and maintenance-free.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel meansfor cutting roll-fed copier paper into desired lengths in a manner suchas to minimize the possibility of the paper jamming in the copyingequipment.

The drawings and description that follow describe the invention andindicate some of the ways in which it can be used. In addition, some ofthe advantages provided by the invention will be pointed out.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a microfilm readercopier made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional and partially schematic view taken alongline 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective and partially schematic view of some of thecomponents of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a partially cross-sectional, partially schematic elevationview of a portion of the paper-cutting apparatus of the machine shown inFIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 7a is a partially cross-sectional elevation view of anotherportion of the paper-cutting apparatus of the machine shown in FIGURES 1and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a partially cross-sectional partially cutaway elevation viewof the paper-cutting apparatus shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 99 of FIGURE-8;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit ofthe machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

OVERALL OPERATION The overall operation and performance of thereadercopier machine of the present invention now will be explained withreference to FIGURE 1. The readercopier 20 is designed to be used on topof a table with the operator seated in front of it. The operator placesa magazine 22 of microfilm 24 on a turntable 26 and threads themicrofilm 24 through a rotatable projector assembly 28 and onto atake-up reel 30 which also is mounted on the turntable 26.

The machine 20 is turned on by means of an on-off switch 32. This lightsthe projector lamp and displays an image of the microfilm document on aviewing screen 36. Then, the operator turns a microfilm alignment knob34 which causes the projector mechanism 28 and tumtable 26 to rotate afull 360 to any desired position in order to align the image appearingon screen 36 in a vertical position regardless of the angle at which thedocument originally was recorded on the microfilm.

A scanning knob 37 is provided. It may be turned to move the microfilm24 through the projector apparatus 28 until the frame containing thedesired document appears on screen 36.

In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal editing bar 38 ispositioned on the inside surface of viewing screen 36. An editing knobor crank 40 is provided so that the operator may move the editing bar 38up and down screen 36. As will be described in greater detailhereinafter, apparatus is provided in the readercopier 20 for copyingonly that portion of the image that appears on screen 36 above theediting bar 38. Thus, by turning editing crank 40, the operator mayselect a given section of the document for copying and is not forced tocopy the whole microfilm frame being viewed on screen 36.

When the operator has found the frame desired and has positioned theediting bar 38, he may automatically print the desired portion of thedocument merely by setting a rotary selector switch to obtain theexposure time desired (long or short exposure), and then pressingautomatic print button 44. In accordance with the present invention, theselected portion of the document will be printed automatically on acontinuous web of copy paper and the length of paper used in making thecopy will correspond directly to the distance from the upper edge ofediting bar 38 to the top of screen 36.

If manual control of the exposure time is desired, the selector switch42 is turned to the manual operation position, manual print button 46 ispushed and held in for the length of exposure time desired, and is thenreleased. The copying operation then will proceed automatically asdescribed above.

If desired, the above operation can be repeated immediately so as torecord a selected portion of another document closely adjacent to thecopy of the first document on the continuous Web of copy paper. Thisfeature can be very advantageous in many operations such as those inwhich it is desired to make a single compact record of many differentshort microfilm entries. This can give very significant savings incopy-making time, in copy paper costs, and gives a very compact copywhich is easy to use.

When a desired record has been completed, it may be cut off by pressingrocker-type switch 48 upwardly. As further copy-making proceeds, the cutcopy will emerge from the rear of the machine and will be deposited in ahopper at the rear of the machine. If it is desired to obtain the cutcopy immediately, rocker switch 48 may be pressed downwardly and the cutcopy will be fed into hopper 50 immediately.

In accordance with the present invention, novel means are provided foridentifying each copy made by the readercopier machine. When desired, aserial number is automatically printed at the beginning or end of agiven copy. This may be accomplished merely by moving edit bar 38 closeto the top of screen 36, setting selector switch 42 to the automaticnumbering position, and then pressing the automatic print button 44. Thenumber will be printed on a short length of copy paper either precedingor following the copy to be identified with the number. The serialnumber may be increased one digit by pressing rocker switch 52downwardly, and may be displayed at the lower edge of screen 36 bypressing rocker switch 52 upwardly. The number is similarly displayedwhile being copied.

A reset switch 53 is provided to reset the copying apparatus in case ofmalfunction.

EDITING SYSTEM The system for producing edited copies of the displayeddocument is illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 6. Referring now to FIGURES2 and 3, and especially to FIGURE 3, editing bar 38 is clamped at itsends to a pair of chains 54 and 56 by means of clamps 58. Drive chain 54is driven upwardly and downwardly along the edge of screen 36 by asprocket 60 which is driven by bevel gears 62 and 64, the latter ofwhich is coupled to editing knob 40 by means of a sleeve 66 (see FIGURE2).

It should be noted that sleeve 66 rotates independently from shaft 68 towhich microfilm alignment knob 34 is secured. Shaft 68 drives bevelgears 70 and 72 which, in turn, drive bevel gear 74 which mates withring bevel gear 76 to rotate the projector assembly 28 and the turntable24 to align the microfilm in the machine.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, drive chain 54 passes over an idlersprocket 78 and a sprocket 80 at the top of screen 36 which is mountedon a shaft 82 which extends along the top of screen 36 and has asprocket 84 secured to its other end. Editing bar drive chain 56 isdriven up and down by sprocket 84 and passes over an idler sprocket '86at the bottom of screen 36.

Drive chain 54 passes over another idler sprocket 88 and then oversprocket 90 which is attached to the end of a shaft 92 which is locatedat the upper end of a printing screen 94 over which the copy paperpasses and upon which the paper is charged and exposed.

Secured to shaft 92 are mask drive sprockets 96 and 98 which drive maskchains 100 and 102, respectively, which are used to position a maskwhich will be described below. Chains 100 and 102 pass around idlerpulleys 104 and 106, respectively, which are rotatably mounted on ashaft 108 located at the lower end of printing screen 94. Two sprockets110 and 112 are secured to shaft 108 and drive charger chains 114 and116, respectively. Chains 114 and 116 idle upon sprockets 118 and 120,respectively, which are rotatably mounted on shaft 92.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 as well as FIGURE 3, a corona charging unit122 is provided for applying an electrostatic charge to the oxide-coatedsurface of electrostatically-sensitive copying paper 124 (see FIGURE 2)which is fed from a roll 126 and which moves along the underside ofprint screen 94.

As is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, corona charger 122 is suspended beneathprint screen 94 on a pair of guide members 128 and 130. Members 128 and130 are fitted into guide slots extending longitudinally along printscreen 94 with the edges of the guide slot fitted into grooves 132 and134 in the members 128 and 130. Members 128 and 130 are clamped tocharger chains 116 and 114, respectively, by means of clamps 136 and138.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a mask 140 is provided for covering theportion of the copy paper 124 on print screen 94 which is not needed forcopying the image portion above edit bar 38. Mask 140 is moved up anddown print screen 94 by the turning of edit knob 40 and thus moves incorrelation with the edit bar 38.

Mask 140 preferably is an opaque window shade which is spring-wound in aroll in a housing 142. Its leading edge is secured to a bar 144 which isfastened at its ends to guide members 146 and 148, each of which slidesin one of the same slots 131 as do members 128 and 130. Guide member 146is clamped to mask chain 102, and guide member 148 is clamped to maskchain 100.

A spring detent arrangement is provided between charger 122 and mask 140so that the charger is releasably secured to mask 140 and follows itwherever it moves until the charger is driven away from the mask. Thus,turning the editing knob 40 has the following results: drive chain 54 isdriven, editing bar 38 moves upwardly, and chain 54 drives shaft 92.This causes mask chains 100 and 102 to move the mask 140 from the lowerposition shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3corresponding to the position of edit bar 38 on screen 36. Mask 140 issecured by detents to charger 122 and carries the charger upwardly withit. Charger 122 is free to move with mask 140 since its chains 114 and116 idle on shafts 92, and since at this time shaft 108 is free torotate.

When the operator presses the print button to print the unmasked portionof the copy paper at printing screen 94, a brake 150 (FIGURE 3) isactuated to lock shaft 92 and screen 140 in position. Also, a clutch 152is engaged to couple a shaft 154 to shaft 108.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, shaft 154 is driven through sprocket 156 andchain 158 by the main drive motor 160 of the reader-copier 20. Theengagement of clutch 152 causes driven shaft 154 to drive shaft 108 andmove charger 122 upwardly and away from mask 140. Corona charger 122moves upwardly across the unmasked copy paper and applies anelectrostatic charge to it in a manner well known in the art. Whencharger 122 reaches the uppermost end of its travel it strikes a limitswitch which deactivates clutch 152 and energizes another clutch 162which now causes shaft 154 to drive shaft 108 in the opposite directionand return charger 122 to the forward edge of mask 140 where it is againlocked in position. At that point the charger strikes another limitswitch which de-energizes clutch 162 and releases shaft 108. Clutches152 and 162 are of standard design. Clutch 152 causes shaft 108 to bedriven in one direction by means of a toothed belt 164, while clutch 162causes shaft 108 to be driven in the opposite direction by means of agear train 166.

In another embodiment of the invention, charger 122 makes only onecharging pass over the copy paper and is not locked to mask 140.Instead, it normally rests at the top of screen 94 and makes itscharging pass downwardly. It stops when it hits switches at the lead ingedge of the mask 140, and returns to the top of screen 94 after the copyhas been completed.

In both of the above-described embodiments, the Speed of copying processis considerably increased because the charger need pass over only thatportion of the copy paper to be used in copying. The latter of the twocharger-movement embodiments produces even faster copying since only onecharging pass is used.

OPTICAL SYSTEM Referring now to FIGURE 2, when the microfilm is beingviewed on screen 36, the document image is projected from the lensbarrel 168 of projector assembly 28 onto a mirror 170 and is thenreflected along dashed lines 172 to the screen 36. Mirror 170 is mountedon a plate 174 hinged along its upper edge to a shield plate 176 of thereader-copier machine 20. When the print button 44 on the front of themachine is pushed, an electric motor (not shown in FIGURE 2) rotates ashaft 178 which is attached to a lever arrangement 180 to swing theplate 174 towards the front of the machine until it reaches the positionshown by dashed lines 182. Thus, mirror 170 no longer blocks the imagefrom reaching the printing screen 94. However, as plate 174 starts toswing forward, the projector lamp is turned off so that the documentimage is not projected on screen 94.

The projector lamp remains turned off while the charging operationdescribed above is taking place. After the charger has completed itswork, the projector lamp is turned on again and a document image isprojected upon the copy paper at printing screen 94. The portion ofthe-paper which is covered by mask 140 and charger 122 is not exposed.After the copy paper has been exposed for a sufficient length of time(as will be explained in greater detail below), the projector lamp isagain turned off, plate 174 is swung back to its initial position, andthe paper feed assembly 184 shown in FIGURES 3 through 6 is actuated tocause the latent image-bearing copy paper to move upwardly past adeveloper unit 186 to develop the latent image, past a fuser 276 whichfuses the thermoplastic developer powder into the copy paper, through apaper cutter 280, and out of the machine.

PAPER FEEDING AND LENGTH CONTROL SYSTEM FIGURES 4 through 6 show thedetails of the paper feed control assembly 184 which is shownschematically in FIGURE 3. It should be noted, that, for the sake ofclarity, control assembly 184 is shown in FIGURE 4 raised from itsactual position, which can best be seen in FIGURE 3.

Control assembly 184 includes an input drive gear 188 which meshes witha smaller gear 190 which is secured to shaft 154. Gear 188 is driven bygear 190 whenever drive motor 160 is energized, and is rotatably mountedon a shaft 192 by means of a single-revolution Tiny clutch 194. Clutch194 has a tab 200 which is normally engaged by a pawl 198 to disengagethe clutch. However, after the exposure step is completed, solenoid 196(see FIGURE 6) is energized and pulls pawl 198 away from the tab 200 toengage the clutch and couple gear 188 to shaft 192. After releasing thetab 200, the solenoid 196 is de-energized, and a spring 202 returns pawl198 to its initial position so as to engage the tab 200 when it returnsto its initial position.

Two identical cams 204 and 206 are secured to shaft 192. As it rotates,the tip of cam 204 closes first one and then the other of a pair ofmicro-switches 208 and 210 which are firmly fixed in the position shownin FIGURE 4. The tip of cam 206 similarly closes two othermicro-switches 212 and 214 which are mounted on a rotatable mountingpanel 216 (see FIGURE As will be described in greater detail below,switches 208, 210, 212 and 214 are used in timing the operation of thepaper feed apparatus and other components of the copying system.

Mounting panel 216 is secured to a paper lengthmetering sprocket 218 bymeans of a hub 220. Sprocket 218 is coupled to a smaller sprocket 222 bymeans of a chain 224 (see FIGURE 3). Sprocket 222 is rigidly attached tomask sprocket 104, and both sprockets 104 and 222 are mounted to rotatefreely on shaft 108. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 5, sprocket 218 and panel216 are rotated counter-clockwise by upward movement of the mask so asto reduce the elapsed time taken by cam 206 to rotate clockwise from theinitial position shown to the position in which it closes switch 212.Since the closing of switch 212 stops the paper feed, this positioningof panel 216 controls the length of paper which is fed so that itcorresponds to the amount of copy paper left unmasked by mask 140.

When shaft 192 first is rotated by gear 188, cam 204 closes switch 208which actuates a paper feed clutch (not shown) on main drive motor 160.Motor then starts driving a pair of paper feed rollers 228 by means of achain 226. Another chain 230 connects the drive of rollers 228 toanother pair of feed rollers 232 near the top of the reader-copiermachine 20. When cam 206 closes switch 214, the paper feed clutch isdisengaged and the paper feeding stops. A brake 234 is connected toshaft 192 in order to stop shaft 92 quickly after it has been releasedby the clutch 194.

PAPER-CUTTING SYSTEM As was mentioned above, switch 48 (FIGURE 1) on thefront of the machine 20 is pressed in order to cut the paper at the endof a record. This actuates a notching device 394 which is illustrated inFIGURES 2 and 7a. Notching device 394 comprises a solenoid 400 with aplunger 396 having a cut-out portion 398 into which the edge of copysheet 124 fits. Solenoid 400 lifts plunger 396 upwardly quickly whenenergized in response to the actuation of switch 48. A notch is cut outof the edge of the paper by shearing between the edge 401 of the plunger396 and a cutting edge of a metal cutting member 402. A spring 404returns the plunger 396 downward quickly after switch 48 is released.The notching unit 394 is positioned on the upper portion of screen plate94 so that the notch is cut in the copy sheet at the end of a copy.

The paper-cutting assembly 280 is shown in FIGURE 7. As the paper 124passes around a guide 278, an arm 406 of a feeler switch 408 dropsdownwardly into the notch in the edge of the paper. This actuates asolenoid 410 which swings a pawl 412 out of engagement with the tab 414of a Tiny clutch 416 (see FIGURE 8). PaWl 412 is pivoted on a pivot 413,and is urged into engagement with tab 414 by a spring 415. A stop member417 limits the movement of pawl 412. As is shown in FIG- URE 8, therelease of tab 414 causes clutch 41 6 to engage and couple a sprocket418 to a shaft 420 forming a part of a knife unit 422. Sprocket 418 isdriven by roller shaft 424 (see FIGURE 7) by means of a chain 426.

I Referring now to FIGURES 7 through 9, knife unit 422 includes a pairof parallel rotatably-mounted shafts 420 and 428. An upper cutting bladeis mounted in a cut-out portion of shaft 428 by means of a pair ofscrews 432 and 434. A lower cutting blade 436 similarly is mounted in acut-out portion of shaft 420 by means of screws 438 and 440. Eachcutting blade is slightly wider at the right end (as shown in FIGURE 8)than at the left end. Also, the mounting surface for each blade at,

its left end is inclined With respect to the mounting surface at itsright end so that each blade is given a helical twist, lower blade 436being twisted clockwise as viewed left end of upper blade 430 to matewith lobe 442.

When sprocket 418 is clutched to shaft 420 in the manner describedabove, shafts 420 and 428 are rotated for one revolution in oppositedirections, thus bringing the cutting edges of blades 430 and 436together in a sweeping shearing motion; that is, in a shearing motionthat takes place while the blades are sweeping" or moving with thepaper.

Shaft 428 is rotated by means of a spur gear 448 secured to shaft 420and mating with another spur gear 450 which is coupled to shaft 428 bymeans of a springcoupling indicated generally at 452 in FIGURE 8 andillustrated in greater detail in FIGURES 8a and 9. Spring coupling 452includes three flat springs 454, 456 and 458, each of which is coiledinto a spiral at both ends. One end of each coil spring is wound arounda post 460, 462 or 464, respectively, which is mounted upon spur gear450. The other end of each spring is coiled around a post 466, 468 or470, respectively, which is secured to shaft 428 by means of an annularmember 472. As is best shown in FIGURE 8a, the right end 474 of pin 462fits into a slot 476 in shaft 428. There is substantial room for a' pinend 474 to move circumferentially within slot 476, thus givingconsiderable play between gear 450 and shaft 428. The three springs 454,456 and 458 urge the cutting edges of blades 430 and 436 together toensure clean papercutting, but, because of the flexibility, do not causethe blades to bind together or wear excessively.

The knife unit 422 is highly advantageous for cutting a moving paperWeb. The shearing action is created by the rotation of two shafts whichare driven by the same drive system which feeds the paper through theunit. Thus, the shearing blades move or sweep along with the paper asthey are cutting it and thereby prevent the paper from gathering infolds and clogging in the cutting assembly 280. What is more, the knifeblades sweep the cut copy as they move along and eject it from themachine, thus avoiding the necessity of providing an additional set ofdrive rollers. Furthermore, the lobes 442 and 444 which make initial andfinal contact between the blades, and the spring coupling arrangement442 insure that the blades will not clash against one another and willremain sharp for long periods of time. Thus, knife unit 422 is atroublefree device for cutting copy paper while it is in motion andmoving the cut copies out of the copying apparatus.

ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT The electrical control circuit for thereader-copier 20 is indicated at 512 in FIGURE 10. The electricalcontrol switches are illustrated both in FIGURE 1 and in FIG- URE 10.The way in which the switches are used was related above in the initialpart of this description. The operation of control circuit 512 now willbe explained by describing what happens when each control switch isactuated by the operator.

Pushing On-Ofi switch 32 to turn the machine On Standard alternatingcurrent is applied to input terminals 514 and 516. When on-oif switch 32is pushed to the on position, the following takes place:

(1) Full-wave rectifier 518 is energized. It supplies direct current tothe various relays and solenoids of the circuit.

(2) The projector lamp 520 is energized through switch 522, variableresistor 524, and a power relay 526. Switch 522 is located on a mirrorsupport plate 174 (FIG- URE 2) and is normally closed when the plate 174is in its rear-most position. Variable resistor 524 is used to vary thevoltage applied to the projector lamp.

(3) Fuser blower motor 528 is energized through a relay 590. Motor 528drives a blower which blows cooling airover the fuser to prevent it fromoverheating. A thermostat 530 senses the temperature near the fuser andenergizes blower motor 528 whenever the blower is not energized and thefuser gets too hot.

(4) Blower motor 532 is energized to drive the blower which cools theprojector lamp 520.

(5) Solenoid 534 (see FIGURE 2) which is used to automatically focus thelens in the projector assembly 28 on the screen 36.

(6) A stepping switch 536 having ten levels, 537 through 546, ispositioned at its zero or starting position. Stepping switch 536provides the switching between various steps or functions of theautomatic and manual copying processes.

Pushing switch 52 to view or advance the serial number When rockerswitch 52 is pressed upwardly to view the number appearing on theVeeder-Root counter 488, counter illumination lamps 490 are energizedthrough a step-down transformer 548 and a relay 550. This projects animage of the counter number on the lower portion of the viewing screen36.

Pushing switch 52 downwardly (FIGURE 1) energizes a solenoid 552 whichadvances the count on counter 488 by one number.

Pressing automatic Print switch 44 to make a copy When the masking bar38 has been positioned to mark the portion of the document to be copied,the operator presses the automatic print switch 44 to make a copy. Thisadvances the contact arm of each level of stepping switch 536 to thenext contact to the right (hereinafter referred to as the firstcontact). This stepping is performed by a coil 549 protected by a sparkprotector 551. This gives the following results:

(a) With stepping switch 536 in the first position:

(1) The focusing solenoid 534 is de-energized.

(2) Mirror motor 554 is energized and starts moving the projectionmirror .170 forward. This causes switch 522 to open.

(3) Projection lamp 520 is de-energized when switch 522 opens.

(4) Mask brake (see FIGURE 3) is energized to lock the mask 140 inposition.

(5) When the mirror 170 reaches its forward position, it closes a switch556 which causes the contacts of stepping switch 536 to be advanced tothe second position.

(b) With switch 536 in its second position:

(1) Mirror motor 554 is de-energized.

(2) Relay 558 is energized, and in turn supplies main drive motor (seeFIGURE 2) with alternating current.

(3) High-voltage supply 560' is energized; it supplies high voltageenergy to the charger unit 122.

(4) Charger clutch 162 (see FIGURE 3) is energized. Clutch 162 now movescharger 122 downwardly along print screen 94 in the arrangementdescribed above in which only a single pass of the charger is used tocharge the copy paper.

(5) Switch 562 is located at the front edge of mask 140. It is closedwhen it is hit by charger 122 when it reaches the end of its chargingpass. This moves the contact arms of stepping switch 536 to the thirdposition.

(0) With switch 536 in its third position:

(1) The following are de-energized; relay 558 and main drive motor .160;high voltage source 560; and fus'er blower motor 528.

(.2) When the four-position selector switch 42 (FIG- URE 1) is in theautomatic numbering position, both of its contacts 562, 564 contact thefirst (farthest left) contact. In this position, relay 550 is energizedthrough contact arm 564 and serial-numbering lamps 490 are lighted toproject a serial number onto the copy paper. Also, an electrical signalis sent through contact arm 562 and variable resistor 566 to aconventional timing circuit 568 which actuates a relay 570 after thecopy paper has been exposed to the number image for an exposure timewhich is set by variable resistor 566. The closing of the contacts ofrelay 570 then move the contact arms of step- 1 ping switch 536 to thefourth position.

(3) With the contact arms 562 and 564 of selector switch 42 set ateither the second or third positions (long or short exposure time, forautomatic copy making), an electrical signal is sent through one ofvariable resistors 572 or 574, through a photocell 576 which samples thelight emitted by projector lamp 520, and into timing circuit 568.Projector lamp 520 is energized through contact arm 564 of selectorswitch 42.

Photocell 576 is an element of a standard densitometer arrangement forautomatically sensing and timing the exposure required. The exposuretime also is controlled by the resistance setting of variable resistors572 and 574. After the copy paper has been exposed to the document imagefor the proper length of time, relay 57 is energized and the steppingswitch 536 is moved to its fourth position.

(d) With switch 536 in its fourth position:

(1) The following are de-energized: relays 570 and 550, and, if they areenergized, numbering lamps 490.

(2) Developer unit advance solenoid 260 is energized to move thedeveloper unit into contact with the copy paper.

(3) Relay 558 and main drive motor 160 are energized.

(4) The movement of developer unit 186 towards the copy paper closesswitches 578 and 580 and opens switches 582 and 584. When switch 580 isclosed, an electrical signal is sent through a fuser warm-up timingarrangement which consists of a variable resistor 586, a thermistor 588,and timing circuit 568. The simultaneous closing of switch 578 actuatesa power relay 590' and energizes the twin heating elements 592 of thefuser 276 (see FIG- URE 2) to start it warming-up to a proper fusingtemperature. Thermistor 588 senses the temperature of fuser elements 592and, together with variable resistor 586 and timing circuit 568,controls the amount of time the fuser is allowed to warm up before paperis fed through it.

(5) When the fuser has warmed up sufliciently, a signal is sent to relay570 which energizes solenoid 196 (see FIGURE 6) which releases the driveclutch for paper-feed control unit 184 (see FIGURE 4) and startspaper-length cams 204 and 206 rotating.

(6) Cam 204 first closes switch 208 which moves the contact arms ofstepping switch 536 to the fifth position.

(e) With switch 536 in the fifth position:

(1) Relay 570 and solenoid 196 are de-energized.

(2.) Paper feed clutch 594, located on main drive motor 160, isenergized to cause main drive motor 160 to drive the paper-feed follersand start feeding the paper. Also, relay 595 is energized to energizedeveloper drive motor 282.

(3) Switch 212 is closed by cam 206 after the cam has rotated a distanceproportional to the length of the paper copied. This moves steppingswitch 536 to its sixth position.

(f) When switch 536 is in its sixth position:

(1) Relay 590 and fuser elements 592 are de-energized just before thepaper stops feeding.

(2) Fuser blower motor 528 is energized to cool the fuser rapidly andprevent scorching of the copy paper next to it.

(3) Switch 214 is closed by cam 206 (see FIGURE 5) to move steppingswitch 536 to its seventh position.

(g) With switch 536 in its seventh position:

(1) Paper feed clutch 594 is de-energized and the paper stops feeding.

(2) Mask brake 150 (see FIGURE 3) is de-energized to free the mask 140for the next copying operation.

(3) Developer-advance solenoid 260 is de-energized, and switches 578 and580 are opened, while switches 584 and 582 are closed by the retractionof developer unit 186 away from the copy paper. Also, relay 595 anddeveloper drive motor are de-energized.

(4) The focusing solenoid 534 is energized to refocus the microfilmimage on the viewing screen 36.

(5) Mirror motor 532 is energized, returns the mirror 170 to itsrearward position thus closing switch 522, deenergizing mirror motor532, and energizing the projection lamp 520, thus preparing thereader-copier machine for viewing documents on viewing screen 36.

(6) Cam 204 (FIGURE 4) closes switch 210 which switches stepping switch536 to its eight position.

(h) With switch 536 in its eight position, switch 584 is still closedand the switch 536 is stepped to its ninth position. 1

(i) With switch 536 in its ninth position:

(1) Charger clutch 152 (FIGURE 3) is energized to return the charger 122to the top of the printing screen 94.

(2) When charger 122 reaches the top of print screen 94, it closes aswitch 596 which returns stepping switch 536 to its initial or zeroposition, thus preparing the control circuit for another copying cycle.

(j) When switch 536 returns to its zero position, relay 558 and maindrive motor are de-energized, and a lamp 598 is energized to illuminateprint button 44 from the inside to indicate to the operator that themachine is ready for another copying cycle.

Pressing switch 48 to cut or feed-out a copy When rocker switch 48 ispushed upwardly to cut a copy after it is completed, this energizesolenoid 400 of notching unit 394 (FIGURE 7a) and notches the paper inthe manner described above. Note that solenoid 400 cannot be energizedunless stepping switch is at its zero position; that is, it cannot beenergized when the copying apparatus is printing.

When the notch in the paper passes under arm 406 of switch 278 (FIGURE7), switch 278 closes and solenoid 410 is energized to actuate the knifeunit 422 to cut the paper in the manner described above.

When switch 48 is pressed downwardly to feed a copy out of the machine,the paper feed clutch 594 on drive motor 160 is energized. Relay 590 andfuser elements 592 are energized, and current is supplied through thevariable resistor 600 to thermistor 588 to set the warm-up time of thefuser. After the required warm-up time, relay 570 is energized and inturn energizes relay 558 which starts the main drive motor to start thepaper feeding out of the machine. When the paper has been cut, or whenno more paper feed is desired, the operator releases switch 48 andde-energizes the drive motor, fuser and paper-feed clutch.

It should be understood that rocker switches 48, 52 and 53, and switches44 and 46, all shown in FIGURE 1, are closed only as long as they areheld in by the operator. Only on-ofi switch 32 and selector switch 42remain in position when released by the operator.

Pressing reset switch 53 Reset switch 53 is pressed if, during aprinting cycle, the developer unit 186 is not in proper position, or ifthe paper length cams, charger, or stepping switch do not operateproperly and it is desired to start the printing cycle all over again.Pressing switch 53 energizes relay 602 which closes appropriate switchesto recycle the equipment and return the stepping switch 536 to itsinitial position.

The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrativeand not limiting. Various changes or modifications in the embodimentsdescribed may occur to those skilled in the art and these can be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forthin the claims.

We claim:

1. In a copying machine utilizing a continuous web of copy paper fedfrom a roll, and including exposing and developing means, means forfeeding paper from said roll through said developing means, drive meansfor said feeding means, apparatus for cutting said copy paper to formindividual copies, said cutting apparatus comprising a pair ofsubstantially parallel shafts, a shearing blade on each of said shafts,said shafts and said blades being positioned to normally pass said copypaper between them without cutting it, and coupling means for drivablycoupling said shafts to said drive means and moving both of said bladestogether in a shearing movement while simultaneously rotating both ofsaid shafts in opposite directions to sweep said blades in the directionin which said paper is moving at approximately the same speed as saidpaper.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which each of said blades is secured toits shaft and is twisted with respect to its longitudinal axis to form agenerally helical cutting edge on said blade, the direction of twistingof one of said blades being opposite to that of the other of saidblades.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which one of said shafts is adapted to bedriven to rotate both of said shafts, and including a drive couplingbetween said shafts, said coupling being adapted to rotate the other ofsaid shafts in the opposite direction with play between the shafts, saidcoupling including spring means for urging said blades together duringsaid shearing movement.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said drive coupling comprises afirst spur gear secured to said one shaft,

12 v a second spur gear rotatably mounted on said other shaft and meshedwith said first spur gear, an annular member secured to said other shaftadjacent said second spur gear, at least one post extending from saidsecond spur gear towards said annular member, at least one other postextending from said annular member towards said second spur gear, saidspring means comprising at least one flat spring with each of its endsbeing: coiled around one of said posts.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said cutting means is positionedadjacent a discharge guide so as to discharge cut copies from saidmachine.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said feeding means includes feedrollers and said coupling means couples said shafts to be driven by saiddrive means at approximately the same speed as said feed rollers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,318,892 10/1919 Maier 83-342 X1,948,796 2/1934 Miiller 83-345 2,125,939 8/1938 Macfarren 83-345 X2,233,922 3/ 1941 Kaddeland 83-342 X 3,075,493 1/1963 Cerasani et al.83-371 X 3,084,582 4/1963 Anderson 83-348 X 3,185,025 5/1965 Pfaff et a183-371 X FRANK T. YOST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

